Private chauffeurs help people get where they want to go, whether it’s to the office, the local shopping mall or a social event. A private chauffeur is either hired full time by one employer, or he may work for a company that hires him to drive for a number of different clients. Chauffeurs must know their way around town, and not get flustered, since customer service is a high priority in this position.

Salary:

The average annual salary for a private chauffeur in 2010 was $22,440, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The salary breaks down to $10.79 per hour. The lowest 10 percent of private chauffeurs made an average of $16,480 annually. The top 10 percent made more than $36,450 annually on average. All of these figures include money earned from tips, usually a factor when private chauffeurs work for a variety of people, and not just one employer.

Regional Comparison:

Private chauffeurs in the District of Columbia made the highest salary at $35,090 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nevada comes in with a close second, at $31,740 on average per year. Connecticut, the state with the third-highest concentration of jobs, offers an annual mean wage of $29,210. States that offered the highest number of jobs did not pay the highest. New York had 14,100 jobs and paid an average of $30,320 annually, while California, with 12,290 jobs, paid an average of $24,690 annually.

Career Outlook:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for private chauffeurs is expected to lessen due to corporate travel reduction. This is due, in part, to corporations taking a more environmentally friendly approach to various modes of transportation. Also, the ability of people to work from home instead of going into the office every day, thanks to super-fast Internet and other technical advances, may also reduce the need for daily travel to and from the office. On a positive note, the industry experiences high turnover, so job openings should become available fairly often. Large metropolitan areas experiencing high economic growth may also be a source for increased job openings.

Education:

Educational requirements for private chauffeurs are minimal, with many bringing a high school diploma or GED certificate to the job along with a current driver’s license. If you work for a chauffeuring company, it typically will provide a short period of training that takes up to two weeks to complete. In some cities, this type of training is required by law. A clean driving record with no DUIs or traffic tickets helps private chauffeurs secure the job. A knack for providing excellent customer service and flexibility in scheduling make a chauffeur highly employable.